Numerical Simulation of the Vortex Shedding Behind an Airfoil-Spoiler Configuration

Spoilers are widely used on aircrafts as lateral control devices. Despite their wide usage, very little numerical and theoretical information exist. Numerical simulation of the full unsteady, compressible Euler’s equations over the NACA 23012 airfoil with spoiler is performed using a hybrid Least-Squares finite element/finite difference method coupled to the Newton-Raphson’s linearization technique. The flow patterns behind the spoiler are presented. The pressure coefficient over the upper and lower surfaces are successfully compared to previously published experimental work. The vortex shedding due to the existence of the spoiler is strong specially at high deflection angles. Convection of the vortices will affect the performance of the tail and so a future study of the wing-tail interaction is needed.